Mill Valley resident charged with attempted murder after fall from San Mateo Bridge

SAN MATEO — A Marin personal trainer who fell into the water off Highway 92 on Friday afternoon was charged with attempted murder. Investigators say the incident began as an attempt to kill his wife by throwing her off the San Mateo Bridge.

Xavier Jarrell McClinton, 47, of Mill Valley was arraigned on one count each of attempted murder and domestic abuse after prosecutors say he tried to drive off the San Mateo Bridge while fighting with his wife of eight years, San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said. When he did not manage to push the couple's SUV past the bridge's guard rail, authorities say he pulled Nadia McClinton out of the car and tried to hoist her over the edge.

The incident comes on the heels of an uncharacteristic period of paranoia for McClinton, his attorney said, one that shocked his tight-knit Mill Valley community with what transpired between the two well-known business owners.

"This is taking everybody by surprise," said defense attorney Anthony Brass. "These are not fly-by-night characters. They're pillars of their community. And it's a really frightening thing to see such an upstanding member of this city developing such strong symptoms of mental illness."

McClinton, who co-owns Corte Madera's Body by X with Nadia McClinton, was driving with his wife in San Mateo County, Wagstaffe said. At some point, he asked her to drive, and the two switched seats.

Within minutes, the two began arguing as they drove eastbound on Highway 92, and prosecutors said they believe McClinton made a deliberate attempt to crash his Honda SUV through the guard rail about 2:25 p.m. When the car failed to break through the thick, metal barrier, McClinton pulled Nadia McClinton from the car and reportedly tried to toss her into the water, prosecutors said.

A group of onlookers rushed to the woman's side, narrowly saving her from falling when they grabbed each of her legs, Wagstaffe said. McClinton tumbled about 15 feet into the shallow water below as the good Samaritans pulled his wife to safety.

Alameda County fire crews found McClinton clinging to a pier beneath the bridge, and he was brought to safety and arrested at the San Leandro marina.

While Xavier McClinton suffered no major injuries in the incident, Wagstaffe said Nadia McClinton received a major gash to her face that required extensive suturing to close. She told investigators her husband had been acting strangely over the past two weeks and that he believed people were trying to break into the home they share with their three children and kill him.

Brass said McClinton was aware that his paranoid episodes were escalating beyond what was reasonable, and that he called police just two days before the incident on the bridge to request a mental evaluation. He submitted to a 5150 examination, and was sent home after authorities determined he was not a danger to himself.

"He saw this coming and tried to take responsible steps," Brass said. "And then he had a complete mental breakdown."

Added Brass, "He loves his wife and kids very much, and this is completely abhorrent conduct. This is just completely out of character."

The court issued a restraining order prohibiting McClinton from contacting his wife while he remains in jail on no-bail status, Wagstaffe said. He will return to court Dec. 20 to enter a plea on the charges.